Viking is voted #1 for Expeditions by Condé Nast Traveler in its Readers’ Choice Awards and offers itineraries that operate between Toronto and Duluth and explore all five Great Lakes.
Viking’s New Great Lakes Itineraries
Viking’s two new itineraries in the Great Lakes for 2026 are now open for booking. The 10-day Great Lakes Treasures voyage sails roundtrip from Milwaukee with stops in Chicago, as well as Canada’s Fathom Five National Marine Park and Benjamin Islands. The 17-day Niagara & Great Lakes Treasures voyage sails between Toronto and Milwaukee and includes Niagara Falls, Canada’s Point Pelee National Park plus a transit of the Welland Canal.
Torstein Hagen is the Chairman and CEO of Viking
Torstein Hagen is the Chairman and CEO of Viking and he said “The Great Lakes region is a phenomenal place that is close to home for many of our guests, but one that few have yet to fully discover. With more than 10,000 miles of coastline, world-class cities and remote wilderness areas, it is truly a destination that is best explored by ship.”
“We would like to thank our local partners for the warm welcome once again, and we look forward to introducing more curious travelers to the Great Lakes this season and in future years.”
Viking’s Great Lakes Expeditions
The return of Viking’s expedition ships to the Great Lakes happens just as the company announces its latest scientific advancement: for the first time ever, phytoplankton is being genetically sequenced at sea.
Real-time environmental DNA (eDNA) sequencing of phytoplankton is being conducted in the PCR lab on board the Viking Octantis, with scientific support from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI). This means that visiting scientists monitor the environmental impact on phytoplankton onboard.
Additionally, Viking’s expedition ships have been designated official NOAA / U.S. National Weather Service weather balloon stations, from which regular launches are undertaken.
Highlighted 2024-2026 Great Lakes Voyages
There are two brand new Great Lakes itineraries available this year: the Great Lakes Treasures (10 days; roundtrip Milwaukee) and the Niagara & Great Lakes Treasures (17 days; between Toronto – Milwaukee).
The former takes in the sights of Chicago, the “Windy City,” explores the scenic islands of the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve, ventures to Flowerpot Island in the Fathom Five National Marine Park as well as the Benjamins Islands. Guests can participate in lab studies of the coastal wetlands and learn about the Native cultures of the Great Lakes.
Guests on the Niagara & Great Lakes Treasures itineraries view the magnificent waterfalls of Niagara and Point Pelee’s peninsula, see the diverse Detroit skyline, and take in the stunning isles of Georgian Bay.
Viking’s Established Great Lakes Itineraries
In addition to its newest offerings, Viking guests can book the Great Lakes Collection (15 days; between Toronto – Duluth) and see all five of the majestic Great Lakes as well as experience exciting urban centers, the sheltered inlets of Georgian Bay, the famous Soo Locks, and the dense boreal forests that blanket the shores of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.
The Niagara & the Great Lakes tour (8 days; between Toronto – Milwaukee) allows guests to discover North America’s wilderness alongside and famous cultural attractions along the waterways of the Great Lakes. This includes the thundering Niagara Falls and Point Pelee; experts explain the ecosystems of sheltered bays and woodlands.
The Undiscovered Great Lakes (8 days; Thunder Bay – Milwaukee) itinerary traverses the width of Lake Superior between Duluth and the
Soo Locks, taking in the lake’s North Shore Inside Passage. Along the way guests experience Kakabeka Falls, the “Niagara of the North,” historic Duluth and the charming car-free streets of Mackinac Island.
The Canada & East Coast Explorer (15 days; between Toronto – Fort Lauderdale) treats guests to the US’s Atlantic coastline with stops at Charleston, Norfolk, Quebec and sailing on the St. Lawrence River full of historic ports.
Viking guests can also book a Longitudinal World Cruise between the Great Lakes and Antarctica which sails on the world’s largest freshwater system to “the end of the world” or the reverse. All of Viking’s Great Lakes voyages feature Mackinac Island, rated the #1 summer travel destination in the U.S. by USA Today 10 Best.
World-Class Viking Expedition Ship Features
The Polar Class, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris host 378 guests in 189 staterooms on vessels specifically built for expeditions in remote destinations. Highlights include:
Finse Terrace: An outdoor lounge area just above sea level with recessed seating, designed to allow guests the comforts of the ship al fresco while enjoying the dramatic scenery.
The Bow: An important forward-viewing platform. And in the case of inclement weather, The Shelter is a partially enclosed space for guests to warm up with a hot drink before braving the elements.
The Science Lab: Developed in partnership with the University of Cambridge and Akvaplan-Niva, The Science Lab supports a broad range of research activities via wet and dry laboratory facilities. Guests have supervised access to The Science Lab to learn from and interact with scientists undertaking meaningful research.
Dining Choices: The Restaurant offers fine dining featuring regional cuisine and always-available classics; the casual World Café offers an open kitchen, bakery, grill and premium seafood and sushi choices, as well as a wide range of international flavors; Mamsen’s, named for the Hagen family matriarch, serves Scandinavian-inspired fare; and Manfredi’s offers the best of Italian cuisine.
The Nordic Spa: here guests can experience world-famous Nordic traditions via an indoor heated pool and a badestamp (wood-sided hot tub) open to the outside.
Nordic Balcony: A first for polar expedition vessels, all staterooms on board Viking’s expedition ships feature a Nordic Balcony, a sunroom that converts into an al fresco viewing platform with an observation shelf at elbow level to stabilize binoculars or a camera. All six stateroom categories feature a Nordic Balcony, king-size bed, glass-enclosed shower, heated bathroom floor, and anti-fog mirror. Every stateroom is equipped with a floor-to-ceiling drying closet that circulates warm air to dry and store clothing and expedition gear.
Expedition Ship Suites: Nordic Junior Suites (322 sq. ft.) and Explorer Suites (580 sq. ft.) on the Viking Octantis and the Viking Polaris amenities include additional storage and seating, an expanded bathroom with extended shower and double sinks, welcome champagne, a fully-stocked mini-bar replenished daily, complimentary laundry, priority restaurant reservations and more.
Environmentally Considerate: Viking’s fleet boasts many environmentally friendly features, such as diesel-electric river ships and energy-efficient ocean vessels equipped with closed-loop exhaust scrubbers. Viking has set a new standard for responsible travel by exceeding the current International Maritime Organization (IMO) Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) requirements by nearly 38%.
Viking prides itself on being ‘The Thinking Person’s’ cruise line and in 2023 was rated #1 for Expeditions, as well as #1 for Rivers and #1 for Oceans by Condé Nast Traveler in its recent Readers’ Choice Awards.
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